Chionographis
Encyclopedia
Chionographis is a genus of four herbaceous plant species. This genus is a member of the Melanthiaceae
.
Chionographis species are perennial flowering plants that grow from rhizome
s. They produce a basal rosette
of evergreen
leaves, from the center of which emerges a flowering scape
. The scape produces a spike of many small white flowers. The flowers are zygomorphic in shape, and when perfect
have six tepals, one pistil, and six stamens. However, not all individuals have perfect flowers. Many populations feature gynodioecy
, and more rarely, androdioecy
. They are native to China
, Japan
, and Korea
, and typically grow in moist places in the temperate forests' understory.
There are 4 species in the genus:
C. hisauchiana was only recently distinguished from C. japonica.
Melanthiaceae
Melanthiaceae is a family of flowering perennial herbs in the Northern Hemisphere. The family has been recognized by relatively few taxonomists, and the circumscription has varied...
.
Chionographis species are perennial flowering plants that grow from rhizome
Rhizome
In botany and dendrology, a rhizome is a characteristically horizontal stem of a plant that is usually found underground, often sending out roots and shoots from its nodes...
s. They produce a basal rosette
Rosette (botany)
In botany, a rosette is a circular arrangement of leaves, with all the leaves at a single height.Though rosettes usually sit near the soil, their structure is an example of a modified stem.-Function:...
of evergreen
Evergreen
In botany, an evergreen plant is a plant that has leaves in all seasons. This contrasts with deciduous plants, which completely lose their foliage during the winter or dry season.There are many different kinds of evergreen plants, both trees and shrubs...
leaves, from the center of which emerges a flowering scape
Scape (botany)
In botany, scapes are leafless flowering stems that rise from the ground. Scapes can have a single flower or many flowers, depending on the species....
. The scape produces a spike of many small white flowers. The flowers are zygomorphic in shape, and when perfect
Plant sexuality
Plant sexuality covers the wide variety of sexual reproduction systems found across the plant kingdom. This article describes morphological aspects of sexual reproduction of plants....
have six tepals, one pistil, and six stamens. However, not all individuals have perfect flowers. Many populations feature gynodioecy
Gynodioecy
Gynodioecy is a dimorphic breeding system in which male sterile individuals coexist with hermaphroditic individuals in populations. Although there is a claim that gynodioecy exists among the animal population, most recorded works done on this subject has been done using plant species...
, and more rarely, androdioecy
Androdioecy
Androdioecy is a reproductive system found in species composed of a male population and a distinct hermaphrodite population. Such species are rare....
. They are native to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
, and Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
, and typically grow in moist places in the temperate forests' understory.
There are 4 species in the genus:
- C. chinensis
- C. hisauchiana
- C. japonica
- C. koidzumiana
C. hisauchiana was only recently distinguished from C. japonica.